THE FORMER BOYFRIEND OF A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND WOMAN HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF RAPING HER IN A JOHNSON CITY HOTEL LAST YEAR. THIS AFTERNOON, A WASHINGTON COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT JURY CONVICTED NICHOLAS TIPTON OF VIOLENTLY RAPING HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND WHO IS PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN AT THE BEST WESTERN MOTEL. HE WAS FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED RAPE STEMMING FROM THE INCIDENT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. IN COURT, TIPTON CLAIMED HE AND HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND HAD CONSENSUAL SEX THAT NIGHT, AND AFTERWARDS, HE BEAT AND CHOKED HER. HE FACES UP TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON ON EACH OF THE THREE CHARGES. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY DENNIS BROOKS SAID WILL ASK A JUDGE TO LET THE SENTENCES RUN CONSECUTIVELY. DEPENDING ON THE SENTENCING, TIPTON COULD SPEND BETWEEN 45 TO 75 YEARS BEHIND BARS WHEN HE’S SENTENCED ON JANUARY 9TH, 2009.